Plenty of goals were scored in Round 18 and this weekend promises more scintillating action.
Another edition of the Big Blue will headline the Matchday 19 fixtures, with both Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory needing to win to stay in the hunt for a finals position.
Check out our Matchday 19 preview and A-League betting tips below.
Also, you can now add all of our A-League best bets to your bet slip with a single click with thanks to the fantastic BoomBet Betshare feature. Just click the button below and all of our Matchday 19 best bets will be automatically added to your BoomBet bet slip!
2022-23 A-League: Round 19 Preview & Betting Tips
Adelaide United vs Melbourne City FC
Friday 3rd March, 7.45pm (AEDT)
The 2022-23 A-League finals race is set to be one of the most hotly contested of all time, and Adelaide are deeply embroiled in the fight.
Sitting on 28 points, United are effectively tied for second on the table, but on the other hand, they are only four points clear of sixth place, so every game is hugely significant.
This will be a brutal test for the Reds, as Melbourne City have been the clear benchmark this campaign. City have scored the most goals and conceded the second least, so there are no real weaknesses to attack.
Adelaide have matched up well against City in the past, losing just one of the last six matches between the teams, and they will benefit from playing in front of a home crowd. However, City should simply be too strong as they cruise in top spot.
Melbourne City
$1.84 (2 Units)
Wellington Phoenix vs Newcastle Jets
Saturday 4th March, 1.00pm (AEDT)
Wellington and Newcastle both sit precariously on the edge of the top six, having produced mixed performances in recent weeks.
The Jets have fared better in that time, recording three wins, while the Phoenix have managed just one in their last five matches. Despite that, Wellington have been the more impressive side over the course of the season.
Polish striker Oskar Zawada has been at the forefront of their success, scoring 10 goals including a vital 94th-minute equaliser last weekend. He, along with Bozhidar Kraev, will be pivotal to Wellington’s efforts this Saturday.
Newcastle may enter this game as outsiders, but the Jets have won three of the last four games between these sides by two goals or more. As such, I like their chances to take some points off the Phoenix on Saturday in pursuit of a top-six spot.
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 4th March, 5.00pm (AEDT)
This is arguably the match of the weekend. Western Sydney and Central Coast sit second and third on the table, respectively, with 28 points, and while both sides have achieved similar outcomes, the method has differed.
The Mariners have scored 36 goals, blowing away teams with their attacking precision. On the other hand, the Wanderers have triumphed through stingy defence, conceding a league-low 17 goals.
So, which team will come out on top here? Central Coast have not lost to Western Sydney in five previous head-to-head fixtures, which bodes well for the Mariners. However, the Wanderers love playing in front of their home fans. Nevertheless, I think the Mariners have the scoring power to force a draw in this one.
Western United vs Perth Glory
Saturday 4th March, 5.00pm (AEDT)
Two teams down the bottom of the table but still clearly in the hunt for finals will battle it out on Saturday night, with Western United taking on Perth Glory.
Western United finally returned to the winners list in Round 18 after suffering three consecutive defeats. Their 3-1 away win against the Jets was their best performance since their win over Sydney five rounds ago.
On the other hand, Perth Glory suffered their second defeat from their last three games when they went down to Brisbane last start. Glory are now without a win in their last five matches and have conceded 12 goals in that span.
Neither side would be happy with their form over the past five games, but Western United will be the more confident of the pair after their success last weekend. At home, they should be able to negotiate another win in this one.
Western United
$2.15 (2 Units)
Sydney FC vs Melbourne Victory
Saturday 4th March, 7.45pm (AEDT)
Two of the competitions great rivals will write another chapter in their story this weekend, with Sydney FC hosting Melbourne Victory on Saturday night.
Sydney have lost a bit of rhythm over the past fortnight when securing just one point from their last two games, although their form prior to that was fantastic. The Sky Blues currently sit inside the top six, but only by goal difference.
Meanwhile, Melbourne Victory were unable to back up their tremendous win in the derby against City as they drew 1-1 with Adelaide last weekend. Lack of consistency has plagued Victory all season long and is why they’re currently glued to the bottom of the table.
Despite their mini two-game run without a win, Sydney have been the far superior team in this matchup this season and are the deserving favourites on their home deck. I’m expecting them to get themselves back onto the winners list with a strong result against their rivals.
Sydney FC
$2.05 (2 Units)
Macarthur FC vs Brisbane Roar
Sunday 5th March, 3.00pm (AEDT)
Another pair of sides on the outside of the top six looking in will lock horns on Sunday afternoon. Macarthur FC will do the honours and play hosts to the Brisbane Roar.
Macarthur would be bitterly disappointed with their recent efforts in a 4-0 loss away to the Wanderers last start, marking their fifth loss from their last seven games. Alarmingly, they’ve now conceded 4+ goals on four different occasions this campaign.
In contrast, the Roar were able to snap a seven-game winless run with a 2-1 victory against a fellow struggling side in the Glory last weekend. It was the Roar’s fourth win of the season to date.
Neither team are in any sort of positive form at the moment, and a big part of the reason for that is their lack of clean sheets. Neither side have kept their opposition scoreless in their last five outings, and for that reason I’ll be backing the over’s on Sunday afternoon.
Over 2.5 Goals
$1.80 (1.5 Units)
